Examination of the impact of COVID-19 public health quarantine measures on acute mental health care services: A retrospective observational study.

This study assesses for the impact of Covid-19 public health quarantine measures on acute care psychiatric admissions, by comparing admission data from the quarantine period to a comparator period. A chart review was conducted for all admissions to an urban acute care psychiatric centre from Mar 22 - June 5 2020 (quarantine) and January 5 - Mar 21 2020 (comparator). Data was collected on the number of admissions, demographics, patients' psychiatric history, characteristics of admissions, discharge information, patients' substance use and social factors. Data was analyzed using a student's t-test for continuous variables and Chi squared analyses for categorical variables. Results demonstrated 185 admissions during quarantine and 190 during the comparator, with no significant differences in the distribution of admissions across time periods. There was a significantly greater frequency of admissions in the 35-44 age bracket and admissions involving substance use during quarantine. Additionally, admissions during quarantine were significantly shorter, with increased frequency of involuntary status and use of seclusion. The data suggests a vulnerability specific to individuals in their 30-40s during quarantine and demonstrates a need to better understand factors impacting this group. It also suggests that quarantine is associated with changes to substance use, potentiating high acuity illness requiring admission.

Adherence in Youth With Multiple Sclerosis: A Qualitative Assessment of Habit Formation, Barriers, and Facilitators.

Rates of medication nonadherence in youth with multiple sclerosis (MS) range from 10% to 60%. Qualitative studies of adherence can provide insight into children's own perspectives about barriers and facilitators to their adherence and inform future interventions. This qualitative longitudinal descriptive study included children with MS ( n = 28) participating in a randomized controlled trial focused on medication adherence ( clinicaltrials.gov : NCT02234713). Following established methods, three independent reviewers coded transcripts of motivational interviewing (MI) sessions (three interviews per subject, performed monthly over a 3-month period) for relevant themes. They were subsequently categorized using inductive content analysis. Youth described medication adherence as being dependent on the ability to build and maintain healthy habits related to medication use, including embodiment of these habits. Barriers and facilitators included remembering/forgetting, experiences with fatigue, and experiences with medication. These themes were maintained through the second and third interviews. Future research focus on barriers and facilitators to habit maintenance in this population.

Children's Shyness in a Surgical Setting.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the relation between temperament and preoperative anxiety in 40 children (aged 8-13) who were undergoing elective surgery one week prior to surgery Time 1 (T1) and on the day of surgery Time 2 (T2). METHOD: Children's temperamental shyness was examined using the Colorado Childhood Temperament Inventory at T1, and preoperative anxiety was assessed using the Children's Perioperative Multidimensional Anxiety Scale at T1 and T2. RESULTS: We found that temperamental shyness predicted lower preoperative anxiety at T1 (ß = -10.78; p = .03) and at T2 (ß = -12.31; p = .03). CONCLUSION: We speculate that temperamentally shy children although seemingly paradoxical, our findings suggest that temperamentally shy children may have developed coping strategies from dealing with persistent anxiety in their everyday environments, and they may use these coping skills in the surgical context. These findings are discussed in terms of their theoretical and practical implications for understanding person by context interactions and managing children's preoperative anxiety.

OBJECTIF: Nous avons examiné la relation entre le tempérament et l'anxiété préopératoire chez 40 enfants (de 8 à 13 ans) qui allaient subir une chirurgie élective une semaine avant l'opération, Temps 1 (T1), et le jour de l'opération Temps 2 (T2). MÉTHODE: La timidité caractérielle des enfants a été examinée à l'aide de l'inventaire du tempérament des enfants du Colorado au T1, et l'anxiété préopératoire a été évaluée à l'aide de l'échelle d'anxiété multidimensionnelle périopératoire des enfants aux T1 et T2. RÉSULTATS: Nous avons constaté que la timidité caractérielle prédisait une anxiété préopératoire plus faible au T1 (ß = −10,78; p = 0,03) et au T2 (ß = −12,31; p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Nous déduisons que les enfants caractériellement timides peuvent avoir développé des stratégies d'adaptation du fait de vivre avec une anxiété persistante dans leur environnement quotidien, et qu'ils peuvent utiliser ces habiletés d'adaptation dans le contexte chirurgical. Ces résultats sont discutés sous l'angle de leurs implications théoriques et pratiques pour comprendre la personne par les interactions contextuelles et prendre en charge l'anxiété préopératoire des enfants.